Ticket dispensing machine



March 24, 1936.. o. HOYER 2@354@@4 TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE I Filed June 15, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet ii I Illll Inn}: ll

March 24, 1936. O HOYER TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1954 4- Sheets-Sheet 2 March 24, 1936. 'o. HOYER TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 15, 1954 March 24, 1936. O, YE 2,034,904

TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 LL91 J I 1 A 1! 35 '5 Z I 39 a 27 3Q 3g 9 Patented Mar. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES TICKET DISPENSING MACHINE Otto Hoyer, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Bentley, Murray & 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application June 15, 1934, Serial No. 730,744

7 Claims.

The invention relates to ticket dispensing machines.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved dispensing machine which, after being used for dispensing a. certain class of tickets, may be rendered inoperative to dispense additional tickets by a suitable controlling mechanism, which is located at a. point remote from the selling booth, when the sale of that class of tickets is to be discontinued. This object is attained by providing mechanism for locking the delivery devices against further delivery of tickets when the remote controlling mechanism is operated, until the machine is loaded with another class of tickets.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved ticket dispensing machine which comprises a box and a cover on which the ticket delivery devices are mounted, with improved means on the body of the box for insuring the delivery of the tickets singly from the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for feeding tickets in stacks to the delivery devices.

Another object of the invention is to improve the ticket dispensing machine set forth in application No. 607,028 filed by Charles W. Bidwell April 23, 1932.

Other objects will appear from the description of the details of the machine.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly pointed out by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a machine embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section showing the ticket holders.

Fig. 3 is an inverted plan of the cover and the devices mounted thereon for discharging or delivering tickets as they are sold.

Fig. 4 is a plan of the body of the box and the parts mounted therein.

Fig. 5 is a detail of the key-controlled locking device for the cover.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line 66 of Fig. 4, the slide for delivering the tickets being shown in its normal position.

Fig. '7 is a transverse section on line 'l l' of Fig. 4 illustrating one of the locking devices for the ticket delivery devices to prevent the further delivery of tickets.

Figs. 8 and 9 are details of the latching mechanism for the handle and shaft for controlling the devices for feeding the stacks of tickets from the magazines or holder to the delivery devices. Fig. 10 is a section on line l0|il of Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a section on line !|-H of Fig. 6. Fig. 12 is a section on line l2l2 of Fig. 6. Fig. 13 is a perspective of the upper portion of one of the ticket holders and the abutment which permits the uppermost ticket to be delivered by the ticket delivery slide and prevents delivery of the subjacent tickets.

. 10 The invention is exemplified in a machine equipped with a series of dispensing devices for the tickets and controlling mechanism for the dispensing devices which are all contained in a receptacle or box. I0 with an integral bottom, side and end walls and an open top, and a cover H which is hinged at l2 to the front wall of the body, so the cover can be lifted to give access to the parts and the tickets inside of the box. series of magazines or holders l5 for the tickets extends across the front upper corner of the box-body. Each holder is used to retain a stack of tickets of a given series or kind. For example,

if the machine is used for dispensing tickets for 25 parimutuel bets on horse races, a series of magazines is provided, of suflicient number to provide one stack of tickets for each of the horses running. The tickets are dispensed from the stacks as they are sold. These magazines or holders [5 are formed of a common front wall I6, which is secured by a screw ll against the inner face of the front wall of the box-body, a common bottom Wall 18 and a rear wall l9. Partition plates 20 are secured by screws 2| between the front and rear walls l8, l9, to separate the stacks of tickets from one another. The rear wall If? is vertically slotted to provide finger openings for placing stacks of tickets into the magazines and removing those not sold therefrom. These 40 magazines or holders are open at their tops so that the tickets may be readily inserted and removed, and so that the topmost ticket of any stack can be delivered forwardly or discharged from the box as it is sold. Each magazine or holder contains a vertically slidable plunger 22 which is adapted to support one stack of tickets. Each plunger is secured to the upper end of a stem 23 which is slidably mounted in the magazine bottom l8, and pressed upwardly to feed the tickets to the delivery devices, as hereinafter set forth.

A series of devices, one for each holder 15, for singly and separately delivering tickets from the stack, is mounted on the underside of the box This box comprises a body 15 A longitudinal 20 cover so that when the cover is open the magazines will be readily accessible for loading and unloading of tickets. Each delivery device is adapted to deliver the topmost ticket from one of the stacks, and comprises a horizontal pusherplate 24 mounted. to slide in channel bars 30 which are fixed to the underside of the box-cover H, a handle 25 fixed to the. rear portion of the slide and extending through a slot 26 in the cover, a bracket 21 fixed to and projecting downwardly from the underside of the rear end of plate 24 and extended to surround a guide rod 28, and a coil spring 23 around said rod for retracting said plate. The side edges of pusher-plate 24 are slidably guided in channel bars 30 which are fixed to, and rigid with, the box cover The front ends of the guide rods 28 are fixed in an angle bar 3| which is fixed to and extends across the underside of the channel bars 30. Each delivery device is provided with a full stroke device to insure sufficient forward movement of its pusher to deliver the ticket from the box, before it can be retracted. This full stroke device comprises a two-way pawl 34 which is pivoted at 35 in the rear end of the bracket 21, ratchet teeth 35 formed in the rod 28 and adapted to coact with the pawl 34 to prevent its retraction after a partial forward or out-stroke has been imparted thereto, and a notch 31 in the rod 28 which permits the pawl 34 to swing into its neutral position at the end of a full forward stroke, so that the pawl 34 will slide over the ratchet teeth 36 during the retraction of the pusherplate after a full stroke has been imparted thereto. A spring 34 is applied to the pawl to normally hold it in its neutral position.

Each pusher plate 24 has affixed to its under side a bar 38 of the approximate thickness of a ticket, so that during each forward stroke it will engage the rear edge of the topmost ticket to singly deliver it from the box. The front portions of the plates 24 normally overlie the stacks of tickets.

When the ticket holders or magazines are disposed in'the box and the ticket delivery devices are mounted on and movable with the cover, it is advantageous to provide abutments for retaining all the tickets of the stacks, except the uppermost, in the holders, respectively, during each operation of one of the pusher-plates 24, which will not vary the height of the spaces through which the tickets are discharged as the result of any variation in the placement or fitting of the cover on the box, so that more than one ticket will be delivered. For this purpose, each maga zine is provided with a spring-pressed abutment bar 4|.which is mounted over the front wall I6 of the magazine and in front of the stack of tickets. Each bar 4| has shoulders 42 at its ends which are adapted to abut against the underside of one of the pusher-bars 24, and between which the tickets can pass. The central portion 43 of each abutment 4| is positioned below the topplane of shoulders 42 to leave the correct distance between the abutment and the pusher-plate for the passage of a single ticket, and serve as a gauge for limiting the discharge to one ticket. Each abutment 4| is connected to the front wall l6 of the magazines by a screw 44 on which it is vertically slidable. is positioned in a recess 45 in the abutment 4| and serves as a stop for limiting the upward movement of the abutmsp t when the box cover is raised. Springs 46 around studs 41 which are fixed in the front wall 5 bear against theunder- The head of the screw 44' side of the abutment 4| to press the abutment upwardly so that the shoulders 42 will, at all times when the cover is closed, bear against the pusher-plate 24 to keep the gauge surface 43 uniformly spaced from the underside of the pusherplate to insure the delivery of a single ticket during each operation of the pusher-plate. When the cover is opened the abutment 4| will be pressed upwardly by springs 46 within the limits permitted by the head of the screw 44. When the cover is closed the pusher-plates 24 will engage the shoulders 42 of the abutments 4| and push them downwardly. The springs 46 will keep the abutments pressed against the pusher-bars so that the gauge 43 will be properly spaced from the pusher-bars to insure a single ticket delivery for each operation of one of the pusher-bars, when the cover is closed and notwithstanding any slight variation in the clearance between the cover and the box-body.

In the sale of tickets in connection with bets on horse races, it is desirable to discontinue the sale of tickets for. one race at a time fixed by a supervisor or controller and for this purpose devices are provided for locking the ticket delivery devices against the further delivery of tickets under the control of the supervisor. A series of locking levers 50, one for each adjacent pair of pusher-bars 24, are carried by the cover H and each is provided with a pair of abutments 5| which are adapted to be shifted into the path of studs 52 on the under sides of two adjacent pusher-bars 24. These levers are placed between the delivery devices and each lever is adapted to move two abutments 5| into the paths of two abutment studs 52 on adjacent pusher-bars. Each lever 5|] is provided with a downward extension 53 and is pivotally sustained by a screw 54 which passes through a hole in said extension. A spring 55 between the head of screw 54 and the front of extension 53 is applied to normally press the rear end of lever 50 downwardly so that it will be seated on the head of a screw which passes through a hole in the lever and is secured in one of the channel bars 30, which are rigid with the cover. Normally, levers 50 are held in position shown in Fig. 6, so the studsv 52 will pass over the abutments 5| and permit. the pusher-bars 24 to be operated to eject the tickets. When the delivery devices are to be locked to prevent further sale of the tickets, the levers 50 are shifted by electromagnetically controlled means from a suitable circuit controlled 1 This means comprises a pair by the supervisor. of electromagnets 51 which are mounted on brackets 58 inside of the box-body l0, armature levers 59 which are pivotally sustained at 60, links 6| pivoted to the upper ends of levers 59,

64 to swing the lower ends of extensions 53 rearwardly and the rear portions of levers 50 upwardly, so that abutments 5| will swing into position in front of the abutment studs 52, as shown in Fig. '7. energized, it will be impossible to operate the ticket delivery devices. Levers 50 are mounted on the cover and the cams 64, which are mounted in the box-body, are formed to permit the de-' So long as the magnets 51 remain.

pending portions 53 of levers 5D to swing upwardly with the cover.

After the sale of tickets for one race has been discontinued, it is necessary to remove the unsold tickets from the machine and to load the magazines with tickets for the next race. This is done by an authorized distributor of tickets. To prevent the removal of the unsold tickets, except by the authorized supervisor or distributor, a key-controlled locking mechanism is provided for the cover. This mechanism comprises a suitable cylinder lock 86 mounted in the rear wall of the box-body l8, an arm 81 controlled by the lock, a link 68 pivoted to said arm, a latch 69 pivoted to the box at 10 and to which the link 68 is connected, and a stud fixed to the inside of the cover and adapted to be secured by the latch 69. A spring 12 is applied to latch 69 to hold it in its non-locking position after it has been released by the lock 66, and until the lock 66 is again operated to lock the cover.

In order to force the cover downwardly against the top of the box-body, loops 98 are pivoted in eyes 9| fixed to the ends of the cover and cam levers 92 are pivoted at 93 to studs projecting from the box-body and these levers are adapted to swing downwardly to exert a pull on the loops 9!! to force the cover into snug engagement with the box-body.

Devices are also provided for feeding the plungers 22, which support the stacks of tickets, up wardly against the pusher bars 24 as the upper most tickets are discharged, and for simultaneously lowering the plungers when the magazines are to be reloaded with tickets. For these purposes levers 74, one for each plunger 22, are each pivoted at Hi to the lower ends of the plunger stems 23, respectively. These levers are fulcrumed independently of one another on pins 16 which are carried by links H which are pivotally sustained on a shaft 18 which extends across the box-body I0 and is journaled in its sides. Arms 19, one for each lever 14, are fixed to the shaft 18 and springs 88 are connected to the free ends of the arms 19 and to the levers 14, respectively. A handle 8| is fixed to one end of the shaft 18 outside of the box so that the entire set of arms 19 can be simultaneously raised to apply tension to the springs for lifting the plungers 22 when the magazines are loaded and tickets are to be sold and also so that levers 14 can be simultaneously lowered to lower the plungers 22 when the magazines are to be reloaded. The handle 8| is adapted to be locked against rotation to secure shaft 18 and arms 14 in position to keep the springs 80 under tension, by means of a device mounted in the handle and whereby the latter may be locked to the boxbody In. This device consists of a rod 82 which is slidably mounted in the handle BI and is provided at its upper end with a button 83 which is adapted to be depressed against the force of a spring 84 and a tooth 85 on the lower end of rod 82 which is adapted to interlock with a series of teeth 86 integrally formed with the side of the box-body I0. These teeth 86 are arranged so that the handle 8| may be locked to secure the arms 19 in their raised or lowered positions. When the magazines are to be loaded, the handle 8| is first unlocked and then swung forwardly so that the springs 80 will permit the lever 14, stems 23, and plungers 22 to be dropped to permit a stack of tickets to be placed on each plunger and in each of the magazines. After the cover has been closed the handle 8| is unlocked and swung backwardly and relocked. .All of the arms 79 will then be locked in their raised position, so that the springs 80 will be placed under sulficient tension to yieldingly feed the plungers 22 upwardly as the tickets are discharged from the stacks. Springs 88 are applied to the lever 14 to exert a slight lateral pull on the lever 14 to produce a slight friction between the plunger stems 23 and packing 89 in their bearings in the bottom l8 of the magazines.

Each pusher-plate 24 is provided with a sightopening 2 through which a portion of the topmost ticket in the stack is visible, when the pusher-bar is in its normal position, and an opening 24 through which it is visible when the bar has been pushed out to the limit of its stroke in delivering a ticket. An opening l is formed in the cover of the box to render the topmost ticket visible through openings 24*, 24 The cover is extended beyond the front of the box-body as at N and provided with a glass cover plate overlying the openings I l and the extended portion N of the cover. Ribs are aligned with the partitions 20 in the ticket holders to separate the tickets discharged from the holders, respectively. The extension serves as a counter or platform for receiving money and also as a guard for preventing the purchasers fingers from being struck by the slides.

The invention exemplifies a ticket dispensing machine which is provided with means operable from a remote point for locking the delivery devices against further operation until the holders have been reloaded for another series of sales;

in which the delivery devices are mounted on a hinged cover and the magazines for the tickets and the mechanism for operating the locking devices are mounted in the body of the box; in which spring-pressed gauges are provided for insuring the single delivery of tickets from the magazines; and in which improved devices are provided for feeding the stacks of tickets to the delivery devices.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the particular details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I regard as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a ticket dispensing machine, the combination of a box or receptacle, a holder in the box for a stack of tickets, a slidable bar for delivering tickets from the stack, means for feeding the stack to the delivery device, and a spring-pressed abutment mounted in the box, for retaining the tickets below the topmost one in the holder, said abutment having shoulders engaged by the bar and gauge-means spaced from the bar by said abutment.

2. In a ticket dispensing machine, the combination of a box or receptacle, comprising a body and a movable cover, a holder in the box for a stack of tickets, a device mounted on the cover, for delivering tickets from the stack, means in the box for feeding the stack to the delivery device, a locking device for the delivery device also mounted on the cover, a cam mounted in the box, for operating the locking device, and remote F control means for shifting said cam.

3. In a ticket dispensing machine, the combination of a box or receptacle, comprising a body and a movable cover, a series of holders in the box for stacks of tickets, a series of devices vices comprising a plunger for each holder, levers connected to the plungers, respectively, a handle and spring connections between the handle and the levers.

5. In a ticket dispensing machine, the combination of a box or receptacle, a series of holders in the box for stacks of tickets, devices for delivering tickets from the stacks, respectively, and means for feeding the stacks to the delivery devices comprising a plunger for each holder, levers connected to the plungers, respectively, a shaft, a handle secured to the shaft and releasably locked to the box, and spring connections between the levers and the handle.

6. In a ticket dispensing machine, the combination of a box or receptacle, a series of holders in the box for stacks of tickets, devices for delivering tickets from the stacks, respectively, and means for feeding the stacks to the delivery devices comprising a plunger for each holder, levers connected to the plungers, respectively, a shaft, a handle secured to the shaft and releasably locked to the box, arms fixed to said shaft, and spring connections between the arms and said levers.

7. In a ticket dispensing machine, the combination of a box or receptacle comprising a body and a cover pivoted to the body, a series of holders in the box for stacks of tickets, slidable bars mounted on the cover for delivering tickets from the holders, and means for feeding the stacks to the bars, the bars and the cover having sight openings therein through which the uppermost tickets in the stacks are visible.

OTTO HOYER. 

